Poetry – The Sound of Silence

silence

 

“The pause; that impressive silence, that eloquent silence, that geometrically progressive silence which often achieves a desired effect where no combination of words, however so felicitous, could accomplish it.” – Mark Twain

 

When I was 8,
his hands kept going places and the beast in his eyes kept saying “It’s fine”
the distress on my face and the fear in my eyes were not enough to make him stop.
That was the first time I was silenced.

When I was 10,
I was waiting in the long queue with my parents outside the classroom
In I went, my teacher looked at me and said “She is such a quiet girl.”
That was one time I was silent.

When I was 13,
I let my parents know about the multiple incidents.
They said “Don’t mention this to anyone” and he stopped coming.
That was one time I was silent.

When I was 16,
in a room full of people dressed to the nines trying to make the most of their time,
I stood there alone in a corner observing them during the last day in school.
That was one time I was silent.

silence

When I was 18,
he gently touched my hand and we walked together on the empty streets surrounded by inanimate objects.
Our hearts were fluttering and we smiled at each other awkwardly.
That was one time I was silent.

When I was 20,
he left leaving behind bittersweet memories.
I was reminded that no one is meant to stay forever and people always leave.
That was one time I was silent.

When I was 22,
I met someone and in the beginning everything seemed red and yellow, but soon
I knew it was time, I was tired of hiding all the black and blues on my body.
That was one time I broke my silence.silence

 

Photos by: Krishna Hemant, Tamanna Wadehra, Adwitiya Shukla, and Manan Dhuri

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